Pompon manufacturing method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

Pompon manufacturing apparatus comprises a support and three spindles. The spindles are mounted in outwardly extending, parallel relation with two of the spindles being in a first plane and the third spindle in a laterally offset plane. The third spindle is detachable from the support. Yarn is wound around all three spindles. The detachable spindle is removed from the resulting yarn loops. The loops are tied centrally. The ends then are cut to form the pompon.

United States Patent References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS [72]Inventor VlctorRosene 6720 N. E. Roselawn Ave., Portland, Oreg. 97218 IAppl. No. 837,399

[ l [22] Filed June 30, 1969 [45] Patented July 13, 1971 [541NUFACT'URING METHOD N ABSTRACT: Pompon manufacturing apparatus comprisesa 3 CM 8 4 Draw-in g support and three spindles. The spindles aremounted m outm g wardly extending, parallel relation with two of thespindles 28/2, being in a first plane and the third spindle in alaterally offset 28/72 plane. The third spindle is detachable" from thesupport. Yarn D04d 7/06 is wound around all three spindles. Thedetachable spindle is 28/2, 72; removed from the resulting yam loops.The loops are tied cen- 248/176, 12 l, I58; 223/46 trally. The ends thenare cut to form the poinpon.

[5i] [50] Field 0| PATENTED JUL] 3 um MR O ST. mm V W ATTY.

POMPON MANUFACTURING METHOD AND APPARATUS This invention relates toapparatus for manufacturing pompuns.

Pompous are used widely as decorations for packages, pillow tops,articles of clothing, sporting equipment and the like. They also areused as component parts of toys, rugs and other articles.

Heretofore pompons have been made by a laborious hand process requiringa great deal of time. It is the general purpose of this invention toprovide apparatus by means of which pompons may be made rapidly, inassorted sizes, using yarn, string, straw, and a wide variety of otherraw materials.

lt is a further object of the invention to provide apparatus formanufacturing pompons which is readily adaptable to mechanical windingof the yarn.

Still another important object of the present invention is the provisionof pompon manufacturing apparatus which is of simple, inexpensiveconstruction, easy to use, easily assembled and easily stored.

The manner in which the foregoing and other objects of this inventionare accomplished will be apparent from the accompanying specificationand claims considered together with the drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are perspective views of the pompon maker in itsassembled condition, illustrating its manner of use in the manufactureof pompons, and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary rear view of the apparatus.

As seen particularly in FIG. 1, the herein described pomponmanufacturing apparatus includes a flat, horizontal base 10, a verticalpost 12 and a pair of flat clamp plates 14a, 14b. All of these may bemade of wood, plastic, or other suitable structural material. Base isfastened to the bottom of post 12. Clamp plates 14a, 1412 are mountedreleasably on the top of post 12 by means ofbolt l6 and wing nut 18.

The support thus provided mounts three spindles 20, 22, 24. These areused as winding members upon which to wind the yard. Accordingly theyare made of a suitable structural material such as wood or plasticformed in the shape of slender rods having a smooth exterior surface.Spindles 20, 22 are formed with longitudinal grooves 26, 28 dimensionedto receive and guide a cutting tool such as a scissors blade, a knifeblade, or a razor blade.

Mounting means are provided for mounting all three spindles in outwardlyextending, substantially parallel arrangement, with spindles 20, 22 in acommon plane and spindle 24 in a laterally offset plane from that of thefirst two spindles.

To this end the meeting surfaces of clamp plates 14a, 14b are providedwith a plurality of registering recesses 30a, 30b at spaced intervalsalong their length. When the two plates are in clamped position, theregistering recesses form sockets dimensioned to receive spindles 20,22. The spindles thus may be placed in selected ones of the sockets todetermine the spacing between the spindles and hence the size of theyarn loops to be wound upon them.

Releasable mounting means are provided for releasably mounting spindle24.

To this end post 12 is provided with a socket 32 dimensioned to receivespindle 24 in frictional engagement. This spindle thus is removable atthe will of the operator simply by pulling it out of the socket.

Although by using selected ones of socket-forming recesses 3%, 30b,windings of various sizes may be obtained, provision further is made formaking pompons of very small dimensions.

As shown in FIG. 4, the back of post 12 is provided with two sets ofthree spaced openings 34, 36, 38; 34a, 362, 38a; and with a supplementalopening 38b. These are dimensioned to seat spindles 40, 42, 44respectively.

Like spindles 20, 22, 24, spindles 40, 42, 44 extend outwardly from thepost in substantial parallelism. Spindles 40, 42 are arranged in a firstplane while spindle 44 is positioned in a laterally offset plane. Inaddition, s indle 44 is desi ned for easy removal from socket 38 andence is provided with a finger grip by means of which it may be grasped.All three of the spindles are of small dimension and-made of suchmaterial as plastic, wire or thin metal rods.

In use of the apparatus, a loop of yarn 46 to be used as a tieis hungover bolt 16. A long length of yarn 48 then is wound around spindles 20,22, 24. The yarn is wound in the manner indicated until the desirednumber of loops havebeen laid. If necessary, the yarn may be wound backupon itself to create a pompon of high density.

Spindle 24 next is removed. This slackens the yarn loop sufficiently sothat the central portions may be bunched together and tied tightly bymeans of yarn length 46.

Scissors 50 or other sharp cutting instrument is inserted in guidegrooves 26, 28 and used to cut the loops. The yarn then is fluffed,combed and trimmed to produce the finished pompon.

In the manufacture of pompons of varying size, spindle clamp plates 14a,14b are released and spindles 20,22 are placed in the appropriatesockets as required to increase or diminish the pompon dimension. In theevent that a very small pompon is desired, the miniature pompon makerincluding spindles 40, 42, 44 mounted on the back of post 12 is used.

For storage or for ready portability, the apparatus may be disassembledsimply by unscrewing wing nut 18 and removing bolt 16.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to protectby Letters Patent:

1. Pompon manufacturing apparatus comprising:

a support, a pair of spindles, first mounting means mounting thespindles on the support in outwardly extending, substantially parallel,spaced relation in a first plane, the first mounting means comprising apair of clamp plates having at spaced intervals in their respectivemeeting surfaces a plurality of registering socket-forming recessesdimensioned to seat said spindles, and clamp means arranged for clampingthe plates together with the spindles in selected ones of the sockets,

d. a third spindle, and

e. second mounting means detachably mounting the third spindle on thesupport in outwardly extending, substantially parallel relation to saidpair of spindles but in a plane laterally offset from the plane of saidpair.

Pompon manufacturing apparatus comprising:

a. a support comprising a horizontal base and a vertical post, 1

. a pair of spindles,

c. first mounting means mounting the spindles on the support inoutwardly extending, substantially parallel, spaced relation in a firstplane, the first mounting means comprising a cross head comprising apair of cooperating clamp plates adapted to receive between them inclamping engagement said pair of spindles, and bolt meansinterconnecting the post and clamp plates in assembled, clampingrelation,

. a third spindle, and

e. second mounting means detachably mounting the third spindle on thesupport in outwardly extending, substantially parallel relation to saidpair of spindles but in a plane laterally offset from the plane of saidpair. I

. The method of making pompons which comprises:

a. providing three spindles, two arranged on a first plane and a thirdon a laterally ofiset plane and all three extending substantiallyparallel to each other,

b. winding yarn about all three spindles to form a series ofsuperimposed yarn loops,

0. removing one of the spindles from the loops to slacken the same,

d. tying together the central portions of the loops, and

e. cutting the ends of the loops.

1. Pompon manufacturing apparatus comprising: a. a support, b. a pair ofspindles, c. first mounting means mounting the spindles on the supportin outwardly extending, substantially parallel, spaced relation in afirst plane, the first mounting means comprising a pair of clamp plateshaving at spaced intervals in their respective meeting surfaces aplurality of registering socket-forming recesses dimensioned to seatsaid spindles, and clamp means arranged for clamping the plates togetherwith the spindles in selected ones of the sockets, d. a third spindle,and e. second mounting means detachably mounting the third spindle onthe support in outwardly extending, substantially parallel relation tosaid pair of spindles but in a plane laterally offset from the plane ofsaid pair.
 2. Pompon manufacturing apparatus comprising: a. a supportcomprising a horizontal base and a vertical post, b. a pair of spindles,c. first mounting means mounting the spindles on the support inoutwardly extending, substantially parallel, spaced relation in a firstplane, the first mounting means comprising a cross head comprising apair of cooperating clamp plates adapted to receive between them inclamping engagement said pair of spindles, and bolt meansinterconnecting the post and clamp plates in assembled, clampingrelation, d. a third spindle, and e. second mounting means detachablymounting the third spindle on the support in outwardly extending,substantially parallel relation to said pair of spindles but in a planelaterally offset from the plane of said pair.
 3. The method of makingpompoNs which comprises: a. providing three spindles, two arranged on afirst plane and a third on a laterally offset plane and all threeextending substantially parallel to each other, b. winding yarn aboutall three spindles to form a series of superimposed yarn loops, c.removing one of the spindles from the loops to slacken the same, d.tying together the central portions of the loops, and e. cutting theends of the loops.